Bonsai made accessible for beginners

Saturday

Aug 5, 2006 at 12:01 AM

Maureen Gilmer

A mighty forest dwells in every venerable bonsai tree.
Though miniature, each one embodies the essence of great old trees. Many evoke the powers of nature that sculpt every living organism.
For anyone with a small garden, or if you live in the city with only a window or balcony, tending a bonsai is as good as it gets.
For every gardener with a bonsai there are a million others who desire one. But this can be a daunting world because there are true bonsai trees and quasi-bonsais. A quasi is simply a shrub pruned into a bonsai shape and stuffed into a small pot. These are not true dwarfed trees; they are naturally small plants that begin and end life in their typical size.
A true bonsai is a species that reaches much larger proportions if left untouched. The art of creating bonsai with such a plant takes years, even decades, to stunt its growth and even reduce the size of its leaves. To achieve such an end takes skill, time and a great deal of nurturing. Any plant grown in such a small pot is highly vulnerable because its root ball is so limited. Because such small, exposed roots dry out instantly, many require watering every day. Too much sun or shade, inadequate fertilizer or insufficient pruning can all lead to a sudden demise.
There have been many books written on the art of bonsai for westerners, but David Squire has created a superior book for aficionados and novices alike. "Successful Bonsai: Raising Exotic Miniature Trees" (Firefly $19.95) is worth every penny. It turns a complex form of gardening into an easy to understand process. The book features exceptional illustrations that are large and detailed so you get a clear look at what's going on. And since bonsai work is so small in scale, it's always been problematic to detail very well through photography.
Particularly valuable are the illustrations of how to wrap wire onto bonsai branches to make the little trees grow with strategic twists and turns. Helpful instructions also detail how to use rigid hardware to shape the trees, a distinctly western spin on the eastern art. Clear, easy to understand details on shaping the branches help you know exactly what to do. It's a task that may sound simple, but it's not. That's because each and every bonsai is unique and must be assessed independently.
You'll be surprised at Squire's simple explanation of pot shapes, with their individual benefits and liabilities. Matching your bonsai tree to the right pot is one of the most important decisions you'll make. His instructions on how to prepare a new bonsai pot to receive the plant are vital. Instructions on how to prune the root ball and how to plant the remaining roots in a shallow pan take the guesswork out of the process.
You'll find the most essential parts of the book are the well-illustrated instructions on watering and feeding your bonsai. More little trees are lost from inadequate or improper watering than any other cause. With scant soil, the need for feeding is nearly as important, but overdoing this can also be fatal. Apartment dwelling bonsai lovers will appreciate the unique details on growing indoors.
Quarter page illustrations of common bonsai pests and diseases likely will make this book your most used reference.
Finally, the 50-page, fully illustrated archive of bonsai plants at the back of the book is a treasure trove of information and ideas. Each plant is illustrated with a beautiful specimen photo so you know exactly what it should look like. You'll also find useful details on position and temperature for an individual species, plus its preference for watering, feeding, pruning and training, soil and repotting. An action list shows you how to get started.
David Squire has indeed written one of the most intuitive guides to growing bonsai for the westerner. It's an affordable paperback that will not only help to save the lives of bonsai trees all across America, but likely will inspire the birth of millions more.
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Maureen Gilmer is a horticulturist and host of "Weekend Gardening" on DIY Network. Contact her at her Web site www.moplants.com or visit www.diynetwork.com.